In the past few years there has been rapid growth in the activities involving particulate materials because of recognized advantages in manufacturing. This growth is attributed to several factors; i) an increased concern over energy utilization, ii) a desire to better control microstructure in engineermg materials, iii) the need for 1mproved material economy, iv) societal and economic pressures for higher productivity and quality, v) requirements for unique property combinations for high performance applica tions, and vi) a desire for net shape forming. Accordingly, liquid phase sintering has received increased attention as part of the growth in particulate materials processing. As a consequence, the commercial applications for liquid phase sintering are expanding rapidly. This active and expanding interest is not well served by available texts. For this reason I felt it was appropriate to write this book on liquid phase sintering. The technology of liquid phase sintering IS quite old and has been in use in the ceramics industry for many centuries. However, the general perception among materials and manufacturing engineers is that liquid phase sintering is still a novel technique. I believe the diverse technological appli cations outlined in this book will dispel I such impressions. Liquid phase. sintering has great value in fabricating several unique materials to near net shapes and will continue to expand in applications as the fundamental attrib utes are better appreciated. I am personally involved with several uses for liquid phase sintering.

Sintering is the process of forming materials and components from a powder under the action of thermal energy. It is a key materials science subject: most ceramic materials and many specialist metal powder products for use in key industries such as electronics, automotive and aerospace are formed this way. Written by one of the leading experts in the field, this book offers an unrivalled introduction to sintering and sintering processes for students of materials science and engineering, and practicing engineers in industry. The book is unique in providing a complete grounding in the principles of sintering and equal coverage of the three key sintering processes: densification, grain growth and microstructure. Students and professional engineers alike will be attracted by the emphasis on developing a detailed understanding of the theory and practical processes of sintering, the balanced coverage of ceramic and metal sintering, and the accompanying examination questions with selected solutions. Delivering unrivalled depth of coverage on the basis of sintering, science, including thermodynamics and polycrystalline microstructure. Unique in its balanced coverage of the three key sintering elements - densification, grain growth and microstructure. A key reference for students and engineers in materials science and engineering, accompanied by examination questions and selected solutions.

As the field's premiere source, this reference is extensively revised and expanded to collect hard-to-find applications, equations, derivations, and examples illustrating the latest developments in ceramic processing technology. This book is concerned primarily with the processing of polycrystalline ceramics and focuses on the widespread fabrication of ceramics by the firing of consolidated powders forms. A brief treatment of sol-gel processing is also included. Ceramic Processing and Sintering, Second Edition provides clear and intensive discussions on colloidal and sol-gel processing, sintering of ceramics, and kinetic processes in materials. From powder synthesis and consolidation to sintering and densification behavior, this latest edition emphasizes the impact of each processing procedure on ceramic properties. The second edition also contains new and extended discussions on colloid stability, polymer growth and gelation, additives in ceramic forming, diffusion and defect strucutre, normal and abnormal grain growth, microwave sintering, Rayleigh instability effects, and Ostwald ripening. Illustrating the interconnectedness between the various steps in the overall fabrication route, Ceramic Processing and Sintering, Second Edition approaches the fundamental issues of each process and show how they are applied to the practical fabrication of ceramics.

This textbook is written primarily for undergraduate and postgraduate students of metallurgical and materials engineering to provide them with an insight into the emerging technology of powder metallurgy as an alternative route to conventional metal processing. It will also be useful to students of materials science, mechanical engineering and production engineering to understand and appreciate the importance of powder metallurgy as an effective and profitable material processing route to produce a variety of products for engineering industries. The book will enable the students as well as practising engineers to understand and practise the science and technology of powder production and processing, as well as to choose the right method to suit the application in hand. The various techniques used for powder production and the versatile nature of these techniques to produce a wide range of powders have been highlighted with suitable examples. Characterization of powders and subsequent compaction methods have been discussed with due reference to the final application. Novel consolidation techniques for advanced applications have been dealt with. Sintering of the compacts and the mechanisms involved in sintering have been discussed in detail. The book covers most of the recent developments in powder metallurgy such as atomization, mechanical alloying, self-propagating high-temperature synthesis, metal injection moulding and hot isostatic pressing. Questions and problems have been given at the end of each chapter. A glossary of relevant terms in powder metallurgy has also been included for ready reference.

Industrial advances frequently depend on the development of new, special-purpose ma terials possessing specific magnetic, electrical, optical, strength, friction, antifriction, and other properties. Metal alloys produced by the conventional technique of metallurgical reduc tion often do not meet these new requirements. Powder metallurgy, therefore, is of consider able importance in solving many problems of present-day materials science. Its production techniques-solid-phase and liquid-phase sintering, impregnation, hot pressing - make it pos,... sible to obtain materials from metallic components which are immiscible in the liquid state and also materials in which metals are combined with nonmetallic components such as refract ory compounds- oxides, carbides, nitrides, borides, sUicides, sulfides, etc. The properties of sintered parts depend essentially on the processes occurring during their formation. One of the most promising methods of producing sintered materials of high density with the best combination of various properties is liquid-phase sintering. In recent years, many publications have appeared concerning processes of sintering specific combinations of com ponents, the theoretical basis of liquid-phase sintering, and the laws governing this process. The present work examines liquid-phase sintering processes and the action of capillary forces in models of dispersed solid-liquid systems, and also gives data from theoretical and experi mental studies of liquid-phase sintering in various metal and metal-ceramic systems. Some theoretical generalizations on the principles of sintering processes are presented, and the driv ing forces of sintering and the effect of different conditions on liquid-phase sintering processes are considered.

Sintering of Ceramics provides the only comprehensive treatment of the theories and principles of sintering and their application to the production of advanced ceramics with the required target microstructure. Stemming from the author’s bestselling text, Ceramic Processing and Sintering, this book includes additional material selected from many sources, providing a single comprehensive volume of all aspects of sintering theory and practice. While the emphasis is on the sintering of ceramics, the book is also useful for the sintering of metals and other materials because of the comprehensive treatment. Starting with a review of sintering fundamentals such as diffusion and defect chemistry, the book continues with a detailed treatment of solid-state sintering, viscous sintering of amorphous materials, grain growth and microstructural evolution in solid-state materials, and liquid-phase sintering. Special topics include sintering difficulties such as constrained sintering of composites, adherent thin films, and multilayers; solid solution additives and their role in microstructure control, morphological stability of continuous phases and thin films; and sintering with concurrent reaction or crystallization. The treatment concludes with coverage of practical methods for improving sintering techniques, the effects of process variables on sintering behavior, and applications of sintering to the development of advanced ceramics. Sintering of Ceramics provides an up-to-date text for a senior undergraduate, introductory graduate, or continuing education course in sintering, as well as an ideal reference text for scientists and engineers involved in the research, development, and manufacture of ceramics or powder metallurgy products.

Based on the sintering conference held at the Pennsylvania State University, USA, this text presents advances in the application of sintering to the most important industrial materials. It offers results on both solid-state and microphase sintering as well as microstructure evolution, and introduces new applications, processes, materials and solutions to technical problems.